The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965): Cast & Plot
The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1965 historical drama directed by Carol Reed, starring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo, Andrea Giordana and Adolfo Celi. It runs 2 hours 18 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 18m (138 min)
- Director
- Carol Reed
- Original language
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English - Studio
- DDL Cinematografica
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Agony and the Ecstasy About?
The premise of The Agony and the Ecstasy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in the Italian Renaissance, Pope Julius II commissions Michelangelo to sculpt a tomb of forty statues. When the pope later orders the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo doubts his abilities and initially abandons it. Inspired anew, he returns, but his artistic vision clashes with the pope’s demanding temperament, endangering the masterpiece.
The Agony and the Ecstasy Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- pope
- sistine chapel
- renaissance
- 16th century
- italian renaissance
- catholic church
- italy
- scene during opening credits
- period drama
- raphael character
- bramante character
- epic history
+38 more Show fewer
- rome italy
- 1500s
- 1510s
- cinemascope
- architect builder
- artistic creation
- famous artist
- producer director
- based on the novel of the same name
- cannon fire
- ox drawn cart
- catholic faith
- hiding in a cave
- fresco painting
- holy vision
- painting a church ceiling
- historical drama
- costume drama
- firenze italy
- religious drama
- fugitive from the law
- republic of florence
- divine inspiration
- marble quarry
- medici dynasty
- michelangelo buonarroti character
- christianity
- painting a ceiling
- sculptor
- papal states
- artist's masterpiece
- rock quarry
- temporary blindness
- st. peters basilica vatican city
- italian history
- patron of the arts
- patron artist relationship
- docudrama drama
The Agony and the Ecstasy Cast & Characters
Charlton Heston leads the cast as Michelangelo, with Andrea Giordana as aiutante di Michelangelo and Adolfo Celi as Giovanni de' Medici. Directed by Carol Reed; 19 actors are credited in all.
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Director Carol Reed
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Charlton Heston as Michelangelo - Andrea Giordana as aiutante di Michelangelo
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Adolfo Celi as Giovanni de' Medici - Diane Cilento as Contessina de'Medici
Also Starring in The Agony and the Ecstasy
· 15 more- Venantino Venantini Paride de Grassis
- Harry Andrews Bramante
- Alec McCowen Cardinal
- Tomas Milian Raffaello Sanzio
- Marvin Miller Narrator (uncredited)
- Rosalba Neri Seductive Woman (uncredited)
- Rex Harrison Papa Giulio II
- Richard Pearson Cardinal
- Furio Meniconi contadino
- Fausto Tozzi uomo
- John Stacy Giuliano da Sangallo
- Paolo Magalotti guardia svizzera
- Maxine Audley Woman
- Alberto Lupo Duca di Urbino
- Adolfo Pezzini uomo alla cava
More from Carol Reed
More films directed by Carol Reed, best-rated first: The Third Man, Odd Man Out, Oliver! and Mutiny on the Bounty.
The Agony and the Ecstasy Plot Summary
What happens in The Agony and the Ecstasy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens in a documentary style, tracing the life and work of Michelangelo as he emerges from the bustling world of Renaissance Florence to leave an indelible mark on Christian art. Set against the backdrop of the early 16th century, it follows the celebrated sculptor as he toils on grand statues near St. Peter’s Basilica and then faces a monumental challenge: a commission from Pope Julius II to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. At first, Michelangelo is resistant, dismayed by the ceiling’s paneled layout and the idea of covering the vast canopy with scenes from the Bible. Yet the Pope’s insistence overpowers his misgivings, and he begins a project that will test his endurance and vision.
Full summary
The whole story of The Agony and the Ecstasy, scene by scene
The Agony and the Ecstasy Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Agony and the Ecstasy.
How Well Do You Know The Agony and the Ecstasy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which Pope commissions Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
The Agony and the Ecstasy Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Il tormento e l'estasi” and “Michelangelo - Inferno und Ekstase”.
- Also known as
-
- Il tormento e l'estasi
- Michelangelo - Inferno und Ekstase
- A agonia e o êxtase
- L'Extase et l'Agonie
- El tormento y el éxtasis
- Agónia és extázis
- Agonia e Êxtase
- Αγωνία και έκστασις
- Michelangelo: Smerte og ekstase
- Ve službách papeže
- Муки и радости
- 고뇌와 환희
+11 more Show fewer
- La agonía y el éxtasis
- 痛苦与狂喜
- Michelangelo – Inferno und Ekstase
- آگونی و اکستازی
- Udręka i ekstaza
- 華麗なる激情
- El turment i l’èxtasi
- Tuska ja hurmio
- Agonie și extaz
- Vånda och extas
- 痛苦與狂喜
Seen The Agony and the Ecstasy?
Movies Like The Agony and the Ecstasy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sin, The Titan: Story of Michelangelo and The Robe.
The Agony and the Ecstasy FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Agony and the Ecstasy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy runs 2 hours 18 minutes (138 minutes).
When was The Agony and the Ecstasy released?
The Agony and the Ecstasy was released on September 16, 1965.
Who directed The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy was directed by Carol Reed.
More films by Carol Reed Who is in the cast of The Agony and the Ecstasy?
The Agony and the Ecstasy stars Charlton Heston as Michelangelo, Andrea Giordana as aiutante di Michelangelo and Adolfo Celi as Giovanni de' Medici, among 19 credited actors.
Does The Agony and the Ecstasy have a post-credit scene?
No. The Agony and the Ecstasy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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